Millions of people around the world have lost the freedom to remain in their homes or choose where they want to live. In fact, 1 in every 125 people in this world is a refugee. For many refugees, finding a new home is a long, tedious, and painful process. Many host countries that receive refugees suffer from overpopulation, housing shortages, and rising unemployment. An influx of refugees only increases their problems. Proponents of refugee policy reform often stress that not only is space in a host country limited, but that helping people who remain in their homelands is more cost efficient than helping them resettle. Efforts to protect the rights of displaced peoples and end the strife that rendered them homeless are underway in many places. The history of refugee movements in this century is traced, and organizations that protect the rights of refugees are described. Chapters examine the lives of refugees in different regions of the world. The discussion also touches on what the international community can do to safeguard an individual's right to refuge and to promote fair treatment in host countries without giving the hosts too much to bear. Studying the problems of refugees is only a first step in addressing them. (Contains 1 map and 48 references.) (SLD)